Only urban and sub-urban background monitoring stations have been included in the calculations. Data for Cyprus, Greece, Luxembourg and Malta, are not included due to the geographical coverage of the Urban Audit.

In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set two limit values for particulate matter (PM10) for the protection of human health: the PM10 daily mean value may not exceed 50 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) more than 35 times in a year and the PM10 annual mean value may not exceed 40 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3). In some areas time extensions have been granted by DG Environment for meeting these limit values. Information about time extensions is provided by DG Environment at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/legislation/time_extensions.htm

Total emissions of primary PM10 particulate matter have reduced by 21% across the EEA-32 region between 1990 and 2008, driven by a 29% reduction in emissions of the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) fraction; emissions of particulates between 2.5 and 10 µm have risen slightly over the same period. Of this reduction in PM10 emissions, 48% has taken place in the 'Energy Production and Distribution' sector due to the fuel-switching from coal to natural gas for electricity generation and improvements in the performance of pollution abatement equipment installed at industrial facilities.